A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF ROCK CLIMBING INJURIES

Objectives-To study the rate nature of rock climbing injuries presenti ng to an accident and (A&E) department. Methods-Patients Presenting wi th rock climbing injuries to an urban A&E department were studied pros pectively for one year. Results-19 rock climbers presented during the year, at a rate of one per 2774 A&E attendances. Fourteen climbers wer e injured on outdoor cliffs and five on the local indoor climbing wall , where the safety mats were noted to be in poor condition. Eighteen c limbers had been injured during falls, 17 hitting the ground. Twelve o f these climbers sustained fractures, four of which were missed on ini tial attendance. The remaining climber sustained the characteristic A2 pulley finger injury, which was treated conservatively with a good re sult. Conclusions-The risks of rock climbing Britain would be reduced if lead climbers arranged protection at earlier Stages of climbs. Spor ts centres with climbing walls Should regularly inspect and repair the ir safety equipment. It is important for staffin A&E departments to ap preciate the large forces involved in any climbing fall, in order that significant injuries are not missed. Those treating injured climbers should also be aware of the specific injuries to which elite climbers are predisposed.